Due to ongoing concerns about the novel coronavirus covid19, the david j. We now know that the prediction was overly optimistic and that the fight against infectious diseases is here to stay. Like other health experts back then, he thought that vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines would soon solve the problem of deadly germs. Public health service commissioned corps within the u. Emerging disease in the third epidemiological transition 5. Emerging infectious diseases dr arthur jackson consultant in infectious diseases september 2015 the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. Richmond announced that infectious diseases were the predecessors of the degenerative diseases that succeed and replace them. Stewart, told congress that it was time to close the books on infectious diseases and. Mar 01, 20 within the ten years after surgeon general stewart said in 1969, it is time to close the book on infectious disease and move to the challenge of chronic diseases, we experienced the emergence. In the 1970s many experts thought that the fight against.
It is time to close the book on infectious diseases, and declare the war against pestilence won 2. Infectious diseases, also known as infectiology, is a medical specialty dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of complex infections. Antibiotics and vaccines had left the medical community flush with a string of impressive victories, from penicillin to polio. Stewart2 told the united states congress that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases.
Surgeon generals warning by mike stobbe hardcover university. One of the most infamous quotes in the history of biomedicine. Stewart captured the mood of the time with his now infamous words it is time to close the book on infectious diseases. Brad spellberg recently commented on the inability to verify a quote attributed to the us surgeon general, william h. The war on pestilence will never be over as there will always be infectious agents. Stewart and others believed that with the development of antibiotics, vaccines and pesticides, we were on the verge of eradicating infectious disease. By the end of the twentieth century, he said, humanity would see the virtual elimination of infectious disease as a significant factor in societal life. Microbes are smarter microbes and vectors swim in the evolutionary stream, and they swim faster than we do. Often, research on infectious disease or activities on their prevention and control were. By contrast, the third congress ended with a warning to expect the unexpected. First surgeon generals report on smoking and health is published. Within the ten years after surgeon general stewart said in 1969, it is time to close the book on infectious disease and move to the challenge. Stewart informed the united states congress in 1969 that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases. It is one of the most infamous quotes in the history of biomedicine.
In 1967, us surgeongeneral william stewart proclaimed, it is time to close the book on infectious diseases. In 1967 the surgeon general of the united states declared it was time to close the book on infectious diseases, but events proved otherwise. The time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. Surgeon general william stewart declared we can now close the book on infectious diseases, and when the world managed in 1980 to eradicate smallpox a disease that killed as many as 500 million people in the 20th century alone that confidence seemed warranted. There was a time, not so long ago, when the great mid20th century advances in antibiotics and vaccines seemed to herald the end of infectious diseases as a major worry. Emerging infectious diseases dr arthur jackson consultant in infectious diseases september 2014 the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases.
William stewart, surgeon general in a message to congress, 1969. Multimillion dollar donation to help montreal research. In fact, infections are still the most frequent diseases, and prospects of improving the situation in the near future are dismal. Stewart told the united states congress that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases. Stewart stated that the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases, demonstrating a misinformed and rather optimistic opinion. Surgeon general, 1967 some recent epidemics of emerging infectious diseases. Noting the triumph of vaccines and antibiotics, he is often quoted as saying, in 1967, that it was time to close the book on infectious disease to confront the growing threat. Around the time the surgeon general was writing, there were scattered reports of a very interesting. The 2014 ebola virus outbreak and other emerging infectious. Surgeon general report edly declared it time to close the book on infectious diseases, drugresis tant pathogens have diminished the effectiveness of. Unfortunately, with the growing number of highly resistant pathogens, exactly the opposite has occurred. This former us surgeon general is unfairly credited with stating in 1967 that it was time to close the book on infectious disease. The first public health revolution was the struggle aga. In fact, in 1970, the surgeon general of the united states of america indicated that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases, declare the war against pestilence won, and shift national resources to such chronic problems as cancer and heart.
William stewart, the surgeon general of the united states declared the u. The pros and cons of rapid infectious disease testing. Stewart reportedly made this statement during a speech at asthos 65th annual meeting in 1967. Stewart, the usas surgeon general is reputed to have said its time to close the books on infectious diseases. In fact, in 1970, the surgeon general of the united states of america indicated that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases, declare the war against pestilence won, and shift national resources to such chronic problems as cancer and heart disease.
For the past several decades, while microbial populations have been steadily. Although it appears that he never said such a thing 1, the sentiment was certainly widely shared. In april 1957 then surgeon general leroy edgar burney. By 1967 us surgeon general william h stewart would be so utterly convinced of imminent success that he would tell a white house gathering of state and territorial health officers that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases and shift all national attention and dollars to what he termed the new dimensions of health. William stewart and the story of an erroneous quote the new. Annual report of the surgeon general for fiscal year 1919, volume i. Since then the world has seen the emergence of several important infections. This work is licensed under a creative commons attribution. This influential comment has, however, been contradicted by.
In 1969, surgeon general william stewart, testifying before congress, said that we could close the book on infectious disease. Frontiers the infectious disease challenges of our time. Surgeon general of the united states united states. New infectious diseases like mers remain a major threat. The considerable efficacy and relatively low risk of. Jul 01, 2008 the discovery of antibiotics in the midtwentieth century has also contributed to the increased estimated life span. There are still job opportunities in infectious diseases and tropical medicine capt john w. Stewart was the us surgeon general during 19651969 1. The past, present, and future of public health microbiology and infectious diseases. Chronic infectious disease and the future of health care. The book reopened on infectious diseases sciencedirect. Spellberg asked for quotations with citations from verifiable sources.
Some experts, however, were uncomfortable with these predictions including alexander fleming. Surgeon general 1968, it is time to close the book on infectious diseases and shift public health resources to address chronic diseases. An infectious disease specialists practice consists of managing nosocomial healthcareacquired infections or communityacquired infections and is historically associated with travel medicine and tropical medicine. Stewart 19651969, the statement is frequently used as a foil by scientific and lay authors to underscore the everincreasing problems of antibioticresistant and. Its time to revise the book on infectious diseases center. Infectious disease had again become the third leading cause of. The infectious disease challenges of our time public. Apart from being overly optimistic, one must say that the timing for such an assertion was extremely unfortunate. Depending on the source, the quote is dated to 1967 or 1969. We have basically wiped out infection in the united states. Third congress for the european society for emerging. Committee members heard testimony from surgeon general satcher, representatives of the national institute of health, the center for disease control and the world health organization. In the 1970s many experts thought that the fight against infectious diseases was over. It is time to close the book on infectious diseases, and declare the war against pestilence won.
Surgeon general of the united states, supervising medical officer of the u. When phs opened a heart disease control program under its bureau of state services bss, stewart was named chief october 1954, returning to nih in july 1956 to lead its technical services branch. The national communicable disease center ncdc is renamed center for. Stewart may 19, 1921 april 23, 2008 was an american pediatrician and epidemiologist. The war against pestilence is over attributed to surgeon general william stewart, 1967 1967 concept 1. But now, in their efforts to provide leadership in public health policy, surgeons general. Hindsight is a great teacher and the last three decades have taught us that there will be no closing. In 1967, the success of vaccination programs, combined with the seemingly unstoppable triumph of antibiotics, prompted the us surgeon general to declare that it was time to close the books on infectious diseases.
Its time to revise the book on infectious diseases. Influenza, pneumonia, and common respiratory diseases. It is time to close the book on infectious diseases, and declare the war against. The invisible killers by edoardo campanella project syndicate. Many trusts lack trained infectious diseases physicians on. Indeed, in 1969, the then us surgeon general, william stewart, boldly told the us congress it was time to close the books on infectious diseases. Stuart reportedly said it was time to close the book on infectious diseases and declare the war against pestilence won. Stewart may not have really made this statement, but it certainly. With such phenomenal progress being made in combating illness, surgeon general william h. Jan 05, 2015 then i continued with the quote, its time to close the books on infectious diseases, declare the war against pestilence won, and shift national resources to such chronic problems as cancer and. Stewart, the surgeon general of the united states, testifying before congress proposed that it was now time to close the book on infectious disease as a major health threat.
Jan 01, 2005 in 1972 the us surgeon general is claimed to have said, the book of infectious diseases can now ultimately be closed. Long attributed to the united states surgeon general, dr. Stewart, at the time us surgeon general, suggested that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases and declare the war against pestilence won. Stewart 19651969, the statement is frequently used as a foil by scientific and lay authors to underscore the everincreasing problems of antibioticresistant and emerging infections. On the greatly exaggerated reports of the death of infectious. Annual report of the surgeon general united states army. Surgeon general told congress the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. Stewartthat it was time to close the book on infectious diseases, and declare the war against pestilence won 1, 2. Effective prevention and control of infectious diseases. Whether stewart did say it or not, there was nevertheless for many years a palpable unwillingness to develop and invest in this clinical bedside speciality in some parts of the world, including in the united. In 1969 the us federal governments principal spokesperson on matters of public health, surgeon general william h.
Oct 25, 2012 in 1969, surgeon general william stewart announced the time had come to close the book on infectious diseases. In the following two and a half decades, the microbial world has made a resurgence. With victory declared, increasing emphasis was directed at the non infectious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Surgeon general to declare in 1967 that the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. Brief history of infectious diseases biology libretexts. Surgeon general reportedly declared it time to close the book on infectious diseases, drugresistant pathogens have diminished the effectiveness of once. Stewart is remembered primarily for his infamous statement.
In your excellent science paper 28 january 2000, you quote the us surgeon general the time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. Stewart told congress in 1969 that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases, to declare the war against pestilence won and to shift national resources to such chronic disease problems as cancer and heart disease 12. Stewarts optimism was ungrounded and today the health of the worlds population continues to be threatened by a series of new and reemerging infectious diseases, everything from ebola to west nile virus to. Jul 12, 2008 a former chief of the us heart disease control program, stewart foresaw the importance of emerging chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. It is time to close the book on infectious diseases. Stewart, the surgeon general, travelled to the white house to deliver one of the most encouraging messages ever spoken by an american publichealth official, i wrote. Seven years later, surgeon general william stewart testified to congress that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases. Stewart 19651969 urban legend the primary source for the quote has never been identified. Surgeon general declared, the time has come to close the book on infectious disease. Surgeon general reported to congress that it was time to close the book on infectious diseases.
Hiv a virus that initially jumped from chimpanzees to. During the formative period of bioethics, the field of public health also directed attention largely away from infectious disease, to issues such as environmental. He was appointed tenth surgeon general of the united states from 1965 to 1969. Fighting infectious diseases in our time kids discover online. This influential comment has, however, been contradicted by subsequent events. Stewart has been attributed with stating in the late 1960s that the time had come to close the book on infectious diseases as major threats to public health. In an oftquoted statement, the surgeon general of the united states of america, william stewart, said in 1967. What was the basis of the surgeon general s remark. Dr william stewart, surgeon general from 1965 to 1969, died recently april 2008. Combating emerging infectious diseases in the southeast asia region page 3 more than 30 years ago, the then us surgeon general stated thatthe time has come to close the book on infectious diseases. One suggestion for coordinating such efforts could be a european version of the centers for disease control and prevention. William stewart and the story of an erroneous quote the.
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